He managed a swipe at it, tipping it on its side, sending knives flying, but then one of the attackers caught up to him, intercepting Nic’s outstretched arm while the other goon grabbed his trailing one.Nic stumbled forward, chin first, into the granite counter, before falling the rest of the way to the floor, taking it on the chin again from the hard stone floor.He tasted blood and swore he could even taste the stars bursting behind his eyes.
Next thing he knew, Nic was on his back, arms pinned under him, guards holding him down by the shoulders and legs, as Vaughn loomed over him.“Your eyes don’t lie, Dom.They’re the same eyes that stole the only person I ever loved.Every time I look into yours, I see Curtis.”All trace of the attractive, charming investor was gone—an angry, bitter man in his place.
Nic spat in his face, distracting from his hand closing around one of the knives under him.“And you were going to fuck me?”
“No,” Vaughn said, pressing a knee into his chest.“I would have gotten you right here, under me.”He shoved off his goon’s hand, ramming his own into Nic’s shoulder.“I would have killed you before it got to the fucking.”Vaughn’s knee in his chest, Nic struggled for air.“Just like I’m going to kill your sister too.”
“I don’t think so.”Nic twisted, enough to jostle Vaughn and stab the right-hand goon’s foot.
Vaughn jumped back, and the other thug swung for Nic’s face.Nic rolled into the first who was standing on one leg, his injured foot lifted.Feet taken out from under him, he toppled forward into the goon gunning for Nic, and they went down in a heap.
Nic seized another knife and lunged after Vaughn.“Not so fast, asshole.”He grabbed him by the ankle, wrestling him to the floor just shy of the dining room hardwood.Nic vaguely registered someone banging at the front door, calling his name, but his primary objective was eliminating the immediate threat, the one to his family.Nic wrestled Vaughn to his back, pinning him down.“You’re never going to stop coming at us, are you?”
Grin wicked, Vaughn didn’t let an ounce of fear show in his light brown eyes.“Of course I’m not, Dom.”Vaughn still thought he was running this game, even as his breaths grew short and Nic’s knife hovered above him.
It would be so easy to plunge the knife into his carotid and eliminate the threat, once and for all.To never have to look over his shoulder again.To make sure his loved ones were safe.To protect at any and all cost.What was one more number added to the kill count inked on his skin?
Nic gripped the knife tighter, then startled as the timer light in the office to his left clicked on.In the lamp’s halo sat Bird, green eyes big, orange tail swishing across the windowsill, threatening to tip the framed pictures Cam had lined up there.
A photo from Aidan and Jamie’s wedding that Cam had scoured for after Nic had mentioned he regretted not being in the other wedding party ones.Nic was standing next to Aidan, the affection between friends apparent.
Another from Gravity, Nic and Eddie behind the tasting bar together, clinking pint glass rims in a toast.
One of Nic with Cam’s family in Boston, taken after the memorial for Cam’s sister.
A candid Lauren had taken of all of them at her agent swearing-in.
His family.The one Nic had chosen, the ones who’d chosen him.
He’d want to add one of the Sares too—Victoria, Garrett, and Lette—another family he’d just found.A family he wanted to get to know, maybe even be a part of, which wouldn’t happen if he was behind bars.
A picture of Cam’s face when he revealed the tattoo he was going to get on his left hip.
And a big family picture with everyone, maybe taken at his and Cam’s wedding.
A happy ending he’d never get if he took Duncan Vaughn’s life, which if he was being honest, wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying as watching him suffer.And Nic would make sure of that.He’d make sure Vaughn never touched or threatened his family again, but he’d do that—protect them—without also sacrificing his future too.
He wouldn’t cut through the rope.
He flipped the knife, smiling at the fear that flashed in Vaughn’s eyes, the other man misreading his intent.“I think I’d rather watch you lose everything.And for the last fucking time, the name’s Nic.”
He brought the butt of the knife down—short of a deadly blow—but enough to knock Vaughn out.
Sitting back on his haunches, he took a giant breath and tossed the knife aside, just as Eddie, weapon drawn, came barreling around the corner.His dark eyes quickly scanned the area, counting bodies, before landing on him and Vaughn.“Is he dead?”
Nic shook his head.“Incapacitated.Death would be too easy.”
Eddie holstered his pistol and held out a hand, helping him up.Once he stood, a phone was shoved under his nose.“Someone wants to talk to you.”
Before taking Eddie’s, Nic drew out his own phone and opened Moore’s contact info.“Call the AD,” he said, swapping phones.“Tell him to get a team down here stat.”
Eddie nodded, turning to the living room with Nic’s phone, and Nic brought Eddie’s to his ear, the screen telling him who was on the other end.
“Boston.”
“Oh, thank God.”Cam’s relief was as palpable as his earlier misery had been.“Baby, are you okay?”
Nic looked around at the destruction he’d wrought and smiled.He was better than okay.“We’re going to have to remodel a bit.”
